Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Site Details Name: | University of Edinburgh, David Hume Tower (Arts Building) and redevelopment of George Square | City or county: | Edinburgh, Midlothian | Country: | Scotland | Parish: | | Status: | | Grid ref: | | Notes: | | Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes |  | Faculty building | | |  | University | | |
Street AddressesThe following street addresses are associated with this building: | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes |  | George Square | | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes |  | 25 February 1959 | | Scheme accepted | George Sq. Faculty of Arts buildings, incl. 14-storey block, approved in principle by Edinburgh Corporation Planning Committee per Builder 6 Mar 1959 p477 |  | 6 March 1959 | | Scheme accepted | Edinburgh Corporation Planning Committee approved in principle; incl. 14-storey block at George-sq. and closure of certain streets; work in three stages; car parks included per Builder p477-478 |  | 1960 | 1963 | Build/construction | |  | January 1960 | | Proposed | Arts faculty - Stage I - £170,000 (proposed total Exchequer grant), £80,000 (instalment of grant required for 1960-61 to complete project) per Builder 1 Apr 1960 p654 |  | 1 April 1960 | | Scheme accepted | Edinburgh Planning Committee recommends approval of scheme to the Town Council per Builder p675 |  | 30 September 1960 | | Build/construction | foundation work to start in November at cost of £30,000; 14-storey tower to accommodate Modern and Oriental Languages, English Lit, Classics and Philosophy will be 150 ft. high of reinforced concrete faced with glass, aluminum, slate and stone at est. cost of £500,000 per Builder p636 |  | November 1960 | | Destruction/demolition | Demolition of the older square has been in progress since November 1960. |  | 18 November 1960 | | Contract offered | £30,000 contract for foundation work awarded to Crudens Ltd, Musselburgh; first phase of £1 mil. arts tower scheduled to be complete by 1962, with later phases into 1966 per Builder p956 |  | 1962 | | Build/construction | A new 14 storey building for Edinburgh University Arts Department. 150 feet high in r.c. faced with glass, aluminium slate and stone. |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionThe following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column. | | Name | Role | Partnership Group | From | To | Notes |  | Euan Kidston Colam | Architect | A | 1960 | 1961 | As assistant architect with RMJM. |  | Robert Matthew Johnson-Marshall (RMJM) | Architectural practice | A | 1960 | 1961 | Continued under subsequent practice title |  | Blyth & Blyth | Architectural practice | | 18 November 1960 | | per Builder p956 |  | Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall & Partners (RMJM) | Architectural practice | A | 1961 | 1963 | |  | John Deacon Richards | Architect | A | c. 1960 | | Richards succeeded Steedman as Matthew's chief assistant (and later project architect) for the project. |
Related Buildings, Structures and DesignsParent Structure and Site
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this building: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Glendinning, M, MacInnes, R and MacKechnie, A | 1996 | A History of Scottish Architecture | | | p447 |  | Glendinning, Miles | 1997 | Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75 | | Tuckwell Press Ltd | p16 p165-7 University of Edinburgh George Square Redevelopment |  | Glendinning, Miles | 2008 | Modern architect: the life and times of Robert Matthew | | RIBA Publishing | pp251-57 |  | West, T W | 1967 | A history of architecture in Scotland | | London | p189 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Builder | 6 March 1959 | | | 'University Block Approved' p477 |  | Builder | 6 March 1959 | | | p477-478 |  | Builder | 19 June 1959 | | | 'George Square, Edinburgh' p1079 |  | Builder | 1 April 1960 | | | 'University Building Projects' p654; summarizes Civil Estimates for Education, 1960-1961, published on March 18 |  | Builder | 1 April 1960 | | | 'George Square Development' p675 |  | Builder | 15 April 1960 | | | 'Edinburgh AA Year Book' p727; year book no 4, 1960 includes full account of George Square project |  | Builder | 30 September 1960 | | | 'University Development Award' p636 |  | Builder | 18 November 1960 | | | p956 |  | Builder | 9 February 1962 | | | p324 |  | Concrete Quarterly | 1964 | | | 'New buildings in Scottish universities' Franck, N (1964) April- June 1964 pp14-15 |  | Prospect | 1990 | | | p13 Spense, I (1990) 'Observations on controls and influences' |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes |  | Courtesy of Euan Colam | Interview of Euan Colam by Kirsten McKee | | 3 December 2008 |
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